The Manitoba Moose (29-25-5-1) continue their trip with a clash against the Belleville Senators (24-30-8-1) on Friday night. Manitoba fell 4-1 to the Toronto Marlies on Wednesday, their third loss in as many games. They are 4-6-0-0 over their past 10. Belleville dropped its third in a row, losing 5-3 to the Springfield Thunderbirds on Saturday. They are 3-6-0-1 over their past 10.

Coverage of today’s matchup gets going at 5:45 p.m. CT on CJOB.com, the Winnipeg Jets App and AHLTV on FloHockey. Action at CAA Arena begins at 6 p.m. CT.

First in the Books

Defenceman Sean Larochelle made his professional hockey debut on Wednesday night in Toronto, playing on the right side of Manitoba’s second pairing with Isaak Phillips. He finished the night with an even plus/minus rating. The Moose inked Larochelle to an amateur tryout agreement on March 6. The Varennes, Que. native spent the past four season with the Concordia University Stingers in USPORTS, amassing 74 points (22G, 52A) in 102 contests. He was named to the OUA East Second All-Star team in 2024-25 and 2025-26. He helped Concordia capture the OUA Championship and a silver medal at the University Cup national championship in 2024-25. Larochelle previously played 207 games, recording 108 points (25G, 83A) with the QMJHL’s Cape Breton Eagles and Victoriaville Tigres. He captured a QMJHL title with Victoriaville in 2021.

Ontario Connection

Manitoba’s first game in Ontario this season resulted in the first Moose goal of the campaign where the scorer and both assists were credited to Ontario-born players. Isaak Phillips’ (Barrie) third-period goal had assists from Colby Barlow (Orillia) and Phil Di Giuseppe (Toronto). Excluding goals without two assists, the next closest instance for the Moose was on Nov. 20 against Chicago. Danny Zhilkin, who was born in Moscow, Russia, but spent a significant portion of his youth in Toronto, scored a goal with Barlow and Phillips recording the helpers. With Wednesday’s goal, Phillips reclaimed the Moose lead among defencemen with 24 points (9G, 15A), usurping Kale Clague for the distinction. Di Giuseppe is currently fifth on the team with 29 points (11G, 18A). Manitoba’s Ontario-born players have combined to play 218 games this season, with 29 of those coming between the pipes through Domenic DiVincentiis, resulting in 67 points (23G, 44A). 

Shawville

Mason Shaw has played 328 games in his AHL career, but just six of them have come against the Belleville Senators. After not facing the Senators for the first seven seasons in the AHL as a member of the Iowa Wild, Shaw met the Canadian rival for the first time in 2024-25. In four games, the Wainwright, Alta. native recorded two points (2A) in four games, with one assist coming in each building. Through two games against Belleville this season, Shaw has scored three points (1G, 2A), the most of anyone on the Moose. He posted two points (1G, 1A) in Manitoba’s 5-1 win over the Sens on Nov. 25, potting the game’s first goal.

Who’s Trending?

Brayden Yager’s March has been the best month of his season production-wise, recording seven points (2G, 5A) in the team’s 12 games. It has accounted for his highest points total and his highest points-per-game rate (0.58) during any month this season. The rookie forward has scored 25 points (9G, 16A) this season with the Moose.